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Grants for tree planting in the UK

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A complete guide to tree planting grants in the UK for 2025, covering EWCO, Countryside Stewardship, and Biodiversity Net Gain, with insights on how to apply and maximise funding.

Updated on the 19th of February 2025

Planting trees isn’t just about making your land look more picturesque—it’s about boosting biodiversity, improving soil health, and securing a tidy sum in government funding while you’re at it. Whether you want to create a woodland, line your fields with hedgerows, or replace diseased trees, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the best years yet to get financial support for tree planting in the UK.

The UK government is throwing money at trees like never before, with grants designed to help landowners, farmers, and estate managers plant and maintain woodlands. And if that wasn’t enough, private biodiversity schemes are also paying out to landowners willing to create long-term nature-rich habitats.

If your land could do with a few more trees—and a bit more funding to go with them—here’s everything you need to know.

Why tree planting is a smart move for landowners

Trees do a lot of heavy lifting—and we’re not just talking about holding up hammocks in the summer. They capture carbon, prevent soil erosion, slow flooding, and support wildlife. But from a financial point of view, they’re even better.

Beyond the environmental benefits, planting trees can:

  • Qualify for grants that pay for fencing, site prep, and ongoing management
  • Generate income through carbon credits and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) schemes
  • Boost land value by improving soil quality and resilience

If you have a patch of unproductive land, a steep field that’s a nightmare to graze, or a hedgerow that’s seen better days, tree planting could be a profitable and low-maintenance solution.

Grants for tree planting in the UK in 2025

There are several government-backed and private funding schemes available for tree planting. Whether you’re looking to create a small woodland, integrate trees into farmland, or plant hedgerows, there’s a grant that can cover some—or all—of the costs.

England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)

If you’re serious about planting trees, EWCO is where the big money is. It covers the full cost of woodland creation, from saplings and fencing to site preparation and maintenance.

  • Funds tree planting, fencing, land preparation, and ongoing care
  • Available to farmers, landowners, and organisations in England
  • Pays up to £8,000 per hectare, plus annual maintenance payments for 10 years

💡 Why apply? This is the most comprehensive government grant for woodland creation, and it can be combined with carbon credit income.

Countryside Stewardship (CS) Capital Grants

Not every landowner wants a full-blown woodland. If you’re looking to plant hedgerows, shelterbelts, or small tree belts, Countryside Stewardship is your best bet.

  • Funds hedgerow trees, small woodlands, and agroforestry projects
  • Available to landowners, farmers, and estate managers in England
  • Pays £9.50 per metre for new hedgerows, plus fencing and maintenance grants

💡 Why apply? If full-scale woodland planting isn’t for you, this grant helps integrate trees into your existing landscape without taking land out of production.

Tree Health Pilot Scheme

If you’ve got trees suffering from ash dieback or other diseases, this scheme pays you to remove them and plant new ones.

  • Funds felling diseased trees, replanting, and implementing biosecurity measures
  • Available to landowners with infected trees under a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN)
  • Payment varies based on tree species and project size

💡 Why apply? Diseased trees are more than an eyesore—they’re a liability. This grant ensures you replace them without footing the entire bill yourself.

Urban Tree Challenge Fund

If your land is closer to suburbia than open countryside, this scheme helps plant trees in towns, villages, and peri-urban areas.

  • Funds trees in parks, streets, and urban green spaces
  • Open to local authorities, charities, and community groups
  • Covers up to 80% of planting and maintenance costs

💡 Why apply? A great option if you own land near residential areas and want to improve community green spaces.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Private Woodland Funding

With new UK planning rules, developers must offset biodiversity losses, meaning landowners can be paid to plant and maintain woodlands for the long term.

  • Funds woodland creation, hedgerows, and habitat restoration
  • Open to landowners willing to commit land for 30+ years
  • Payments can be thousands per hectare per year

💡 Why apply? Unlike government grants, BNG offers long-term income rather than just one-off funding.

How to apply for tree planting grants in 2025

Each tree planting grant has different rules, but there are a few steps that apply across the board.

  1. Assess your land – Identify where trees could be planted and how they fit into your land management plans.
  2. Match your project to the right grant – Large-scale woodland? Apply for EWCO. Hedgerows? Countryside Stewardship is your best bet.
  3. Prepare a woodland plan – Most grants require a detailed planting plan covering tree species, density, and long-term management.
  4. Consult the Forestry Commission – If applying for EWCO, you’ll need approval from a Woodland Officer.
  5. Apply early – The best-funded schemes fill up quickly, so don’t leave it until the last minute.

Make the most of your funding opportunities with AskGrant

With so many grant schemes available, knowing which ones best suit your land can feel overwhelming. That’s where AskGrant makes it easy.

  • Find exactly which tree planting grants you’re eligible for
  • Compare funding for woodland creation, hedgerows, and agroforestry
  • Get tailored guidance on maximising income from biodiversity and carbon schemes

Tree planting isn’t just about improving your land—it’s an investment in the future. Don’t miss out on the funding that’s available in 2025.

Sign up for AskGrant today and start securing the best grants for your tree planting project.

Sign up now and turn your tree-planting plans into a reality.

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A complete guide to tree planting grants in the UK for 2025, covering EWCO, Countryside Stewardship, and Biodiversity Net Gain, with insights on how to apply and maximise funding.

Updated on the 19th of February 2025

Planting trees isn’t just about making your land look more picturesque—it’s about boosting biodiversity, improving soil health, and securing a tidy sum in government funding while you’re at it. Whether you want to create a woodland, line your fields with hedgerows, or replace diseased trees, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the best years yet to get financial support for tree planting in the UK.

The UK government is throwing money at trees like never before, with grants designed to help landowners, farmers, and estate managers plant and maintain woodlands. And if that wasn’t enough, private biodiversity schemes are also paying out to landowners willing to create long-term nature-rich habitats.

If your land could do with a few more trees—and a bit more funding to go with them—here’s everything you need to know.

Why tree planting is a smart move for landowners

Trees do a lot of heavy lifting—and we’re not just talking about holding up hammocks in the summer. They capture carbon, prevent soil erosion, slow flooding, and support wildlife. But from a financial point of view, they’re even better.

Beyond the environmental benefits, planting trees can:

  • Qualify for grants that pay for fencing, site prep, and ongoing management
  • Generate income through carbon credits and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) schemes
  • Boost land value by improving soil quality and resilience

If you have a patch of unproductive land, a steep field that’s a nightmare to graze, or a hedgerow that’s seen better days, tree planting could be a profitable and low-maintenance solution.

Grants for tree planting in the UK in 2025

There are several government-backed and private funding schemes available for tree planting. Whether you’re looking to create a small woodland, integrate trees into farmland, or plant hedgerows, there’s a grant that can cover some—or all—of the costs.

England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)

If you’re serious about planting trees, EWCO is where the big money is. It covers the full cost of woodland creation, from saplings and fencing to site preparation and maintenance.

  • Funds tree planting, fencing, land preparation, and ongoing care
  • Available to farmers, landowners, and organisations in England
  • Pays up to £8,000 per hectare, plus annual maintenance payments for 10 years

💡 Why apply? This is the most comprehensive government grant for woodland creation, and it can be combined with carbon credit income.

Countryside Stewardship (CS) Capital Grants

Not every landowner wants a full-blown woodland. If you’re looking to plant hedgerows, shelterbelts, or small tree belts, Countryside Stewardship is your best bet.

  • Funds hedgerow trees, small woodlands, and agroforestry projects
  • Available to landowners, farmers, and estate managers in England
  • Pays £9.50 per metre for new hedgerows, plus fencing and maintenance grants

💡 Why apply? If full-scale woodland planting isn’t for you, this grant helps integrate trees into your existing landscape without taking land out of production.

Tree Health Pilot Scheme

If you’ve got trees suffering from ash dieback or other diseases, this scheme pays you to remove them and plant new ones.

  • Funds felling diseased trees, replanting, and implementing biosecurity measures
  • Available to landowners with infected trees under a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN)
  • Payment varies based on tree species and project size

💡 Why apply? Diseased trees are more than an eyesore—they’re a liability. This grant ensures you replace them without footing the entire bill yourself.

Urban Tree Challenge Fund

If your land is closer to suburbia than open countryside, this scheme helps plant trees in towns, villages, and peri-urban areas.

  • Funds trees in parks, streets, and urban green spaces
  • Open to local authorities, charities, and community groups
  • Covers up to 80% of planting and maintenance costs

💡 Why apply? A great option if you own land near residential areas and want to improve community green spaces.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Private Woodland Funding

With new UK planning rules, developers must offset biodiversity losses, meaning landowners can be paid to plant and maintain woodlands for the long term.

  • Funds woodland creation, hedgerows, and habitat restoration
  • Open to landowners willing to commit land for 30+ years
  • Payments can be thousands per hectare per year

💡 Why apply? Unlike government grants, BNG offers long-term income rather than just one-off funding.

How to apply for tree planting grants in 2025

Each tree planting grant has different rules, but there are a few steps that apply across the board.

  1. Assess your land – Identify where trees could be planted and how they fit into your land management plans.
  2. Match your project to the right grant – Large-scale woodland? Apply for EWCO. Hedgerows? Countryside Stewardship is your best bet.
  3. Prepare a woodland plan – Most grants require a detailed planting plan covering tree species, density, and long-term management.
  4. Consult the Forestry Commission – If applying for EWCO, you’ll need approval from a Woodland Officer.
  5. Apply early – The best-funded schemes fill up quickly, so don’t leave it until the last minute.

Make the most of your funding opportunities with AskGrant

With so many grant schemes available, knowing which ones best suit your land can feel overwhelming. That’s where AskGrant makes it easy.

  • Find exactly which tree planting grants you’re eligible for
  • Compare funding for woodland creation, hedgerows, and agroforestry
  • Get tailored guidance on maximising income from biodiversity and carbon schemes

Tree planting isn’t just about improving your land—it’s an investment in the future. Don’t miss out on the funding that’s available in 2025.

Sign up for AskGrant today and start securing the best grants for your tree planting project.

Sign up now and turn your tree-planting plans into a reality.